The good news is, that in the last half the game things aren't nearly as painless and your enemies show the aggression and tactics they should have always had. The rather ordinary storyline actually picks up a bit as well and by the time you reach the end of chapter five (of eight) everything comes together just as it's supposed to. In a way, it's almost as if the first four chapters are a different game entirely and tests your willingness to put up with the decent stuff in anticipation of the more impressive things to come. It'll probably also take you that long to get over the fact that there's no multiplayer in Legendia either (which is an option that the game is seemingly made for and considering its battle system and one that past "Tales" games have used to their advantage -- weird omission).

Oh, and while we're on the subject of good news I can't forget to mention Legendia's cool visual style. Sporting a super-deformed look that's unique to the world of kawaii, the game is certainly one of the most colorful experiences around. Likewise, the anime cutscenes that help move the story along are crafted extremely well and the town and dungeon designs are pretty inspired. The translation job deserves a couple of kudos too, and while the voice acting itself is rather stiff at least there's a lot of it.

The Verdict

Despite its Jekyll and Hyde challenge level and run of the mill narrative, Tales of Legendia still has some extra gas in its tank. Characterization and overall production values are among the strongest we've seen in the genre for some time, and the battle system itself can get addicting even when your opponents aren't offering much in return. That said, Legendia is definitely slanted towards more action-oriented role-players who don't mind breezing through an easy twenty hours before getting to the real tests of skill. Regardless, when all is said and done the game is actually pretty rewarding... you just have be the patient type to enjoy it.

7PresentationIn a weird anomaly, the storyline is only average at best but characterization is extremely deep. Additionally, the cutscenes and interface are done well and the load times are acceptable.

8GraphicsThough Legendia isn't the best looking RPG in the world it has a great style to it and a nice bit of detail found in monsters and heroes. Sadly, pro-scan and widescreen aren't options.

8GameplayLegendia's real-time battle system allows for combos, chains, team attacks, and special magic assaults, but enemy resistance is kind of non-existent for the first half of the game. Great boss battles!

8Lasting AppealThe main adventure lasts roughly 30 hours and there are a good number of sidequests and mini-games to enjoy along the way. The post-game character quests add plenty to do as well.